Defining The Meaning of Community
My next two films, the experience running LegendsCon, and returning to the world of stunts…this is chapter five of “About a Week Ago.”
[August to October of ‘23]
This is recurring journal entry I’ve been writing to document my life since I started my second quarter of it, transitioning careers into becoming an action focused unit still photographer, starting a new life in California, and redefining the limits of what’s possible for someone of my circumstances. It also gives the ability for my photography to breathe in a story driven format versus the traditional portfolio.
Along with an extended introduction included in this episode, start with Ten Things You Need to Know to understand who I am and how we got here.
Please note this episode does have heavy talks around suicide, depression and mental health. Keep that in mind if that’s something that you’re easily triggered by as you go along the journey today.
With the included videos, this will probably take about 30–45 minutes of your time depending on how well you know me and your reading speed.
-S
“Dreams are Messages from the Deep”.
Chapter 1: “Master & Apprentice”
[1/2 of August 2023]
Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction.
In the beginning, I moved out to California with no network — only some inkling of how my career was going to start. I had an idea — my film school never taught me anything about stunts or capturing motion. It was the #1 thing my photography lacked.
Three years before, I had an absurd amount of free time in the pandemic, leading me to rediscover a youtube channel I had watched growing up — Corridor Digital. Beginning to explore the world of action film, one of their series, “Stuntmen React” would introduce me to the likes of Aaron Toney and Gui DiSilva, two legendary performers known for their stunt doubling of Anthony Mackie’s Falcon and Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther.
At their recommendation, I would join a local gym — TFW Denver and begin my journey training Muay Thai and Kali. Respectively, a kickboxing style MMA hailing from Thailand, and a weapons/flow MMA style hailing from the Phillipines. Until I was ready to move to Los Angeles and really start learning stunts, I would continue training, preparing myself in what I came to regard as Year 0 on this journey.
Among the other videos that have stuck with me that Corridor Digital did was an interview with Travis Wong, a now stunt coordinator known for being the first credited tricker (a style that combines dance, martial arts, and parkour into one form of movement) on film in Step Up 2. He would go onto coordinating the likes of G.I.Joe and most recently Netflix’s Back in Action. A lightbulb turned on in my brain — I knew I was moving out to LA with no real network outside of a few random people in film. If I was going to eventually work with Travis, A.T. and the instructors from JAM, I would need to start again from nothing.
This last January, I had my first intensive with Travis, A.T., and a very boisterous Vlad Rimburg who all would become important teachers along my Year 1 breaking back into the industry. I would attend 3 more intensives before Travis bumped me up to the intermediate/advance level, after of which I would tell him some of my story and where I really wanted to go. Thanks to one of Vlad’s classes, I would meet my first group of freinds in L.A. — aptly named “Hell Yeah!” for something Vlad always says and they would get me on my first several shorts. Instead of telling me “I couldn’t” like the instructors at my past school did, Travis would recognize that I was willing to meet his students and him halfway, gaining some level of respect and as a result unlocking JAM as my sandbox for photography. The next intensive come full circle, being weapons based and have much of focus on Kali.
“If you want to eventually be paid $1,000 a day to do something, why aren’t you training every waking hour for it?” — Travis Wong
The impressions made on the three classes — beginners, actors, and advanced performers mostly already working on the industry — would unlock 100 new freinds added to my network. It would be the first time the instructors — the likes of Jeff Imada, Andrew Franklin, and Bryan Sloyer — would see how I would work on set in my paying life, I was let go by one of my longest standing clients I was expecting an extension from unexpectedly resulting in my life having an unexpected amount of time to sit down and network with people. I would choose a select few that stuck out to me for their work and first impressions, following my gut.
Taking this space to uplift them:
- Grace Segundo was from the beginner class. She was the only member of that class to go out of her way and say thank you to me. Coming from a Filipino family, we bonded over our Asian background, motorcycles as we’re both beginning our journeys riding, and eerily similar career paths since her business is very similar to what I offer for the more traditional music world. Like, Rihanna and Ariana Grande (and maybe Taylor Swift one day). At least she has the job title in the main. paying side of her life locked down, that’s a step up from me.
- Vanessa Zanardi was from the actors’s class. She was surprised Alfa Romeo was going to be my first car purchase, considering she’s half Italian and not many Americans know the brand exists. We bonded over our love for motion capture, documentary film, and living by our shared mentalities of “doing what you can’t” that’s gotten us this far.
- Claire Liz Phillips was from the advanced class. We had a good conversation the first day of class and it didn’t stop. She’s was a pretty big deal (she’ll say she isn’t, we’ll look back on this when she’s famous), having recently worked with one of my favorite directors in Zack Snyder on her first major studio movie. Because she was so impressed with me and my work, she offered to be the first shot at connecting force to the next big thing that will kick off year 2 — my first fully paid days on a larger (still indepedent). feature.
- Aubrey Postier came to me through the strikes. A visual artist, composer, and actress, we had much (well, as it turns out literally everything) to bond over. From our favorite franchise, to music, to being the problem childs of our families, she’s become someone very close to me in my life. Fun fact: 5 unrelated friends of mine all slid into my DMs to tell me how amazing Aubrey was. That’s never happened to me with anyone, like ever — I did not take it lightly.
- Lindsey Bisch came to me through the strikes. An experienced mold maker for costumes and props, Lindsey was most recently with WETA Worskhop for the past few years having recently just completed her dream job on a small little Tolkien show. We shared similar mentalities about work, life, and giving back to our community through our involvement in the costuming clubs, the journey of which I would help her start.
Lindsay, combined with the network of one of my freinds who is currently there, Chris, would be the catalyst that unlocked the path of adding New Zealand and WETA to where my career may go, We realized we could make the background I already have covering Star Wars. As a demo, she would connect me to one of her mentors in Ben Huckabee who had recently completed his first dream job working on the show itself.
Igyah Kah!
To celebrate it’s launch, we hosted a watch party with some of the closets friends in our community.
We had no idea what ride we would be in for.
This included Punk Rock sung in the Huttese language, a combo no one knew they needed so much in their lives but we’re so much happier now for it. What a perfect introduciton to the character of Sabine Wren — the armor of which Ben painted her left shoulder.
To be fair, no one did.
Chapter 2: “For Our Friend, Marcus.”
[2/2 of August 2023]
The loss of Ray Stevenson took everyone by surprise as so many fans were just introduced to his talent. Dave Filoni closed out episode 1 with this touching 3 word note in his tribute. A few weeks later, I had no idea I would be writing something using the same brevity.
Shared love for a galaxy far far away would put Marcus and I on and a path to meeting each other at a patch and coin trading event at Celebration Orlando in 2017. We would be fast friends and he began teaching me the ways of the 501st. Orlando was my first celebration as a 501st member — I was new to a lot of the behind the scenes in terms of how the club operated. With him and several other of my mentors like Scott Magerfleisch and Patrick Gillies, I was able to pick up on a lot and begin making my way through the club
Like him, I was passionate, dedicated, and excited about the work we were doing. I had just obtained my first leadership role — unheard of for someone at my age being 19. Soon after, I was fast tracked to global leadership staff — also unheard of being the youngest member of the legion’s council. Then, much to everyone’s surprise I resigned from everything and took a massive step back.
I made mistakes online that did not warrant me having those staff positions and so, I resigned much to everyone’s suprise. Drowning in my own regret, experiencing suicidal tendencies for the first time in my life, my posts online started to concern people. Marcus was the first who reached out and then word quickly spread that the someone — me — needed support in the 501st. Soon after, I had the likes of Niki Powers, McKenzie Mendehall, Melissa Magerfleisch and my main mentors in the club available to support me at the moment’s notice.
Because of the ideations, I lost my first job in university. I barely graduated school in the first place as a result of losing an entire year. If it was not for the community that came from the costuming clubs, I would have attempted. Eventually, I would be gifted a camera and that would lead me to start shooting photography. Combined, the photography and the clubs would build me out of depression into finding a whole new career path for myself.
Marcus encouraged me to lean into photographing the 501st after my original decision not to pursue the film industry was made my junior year. There were never enough photographers doing what I did and countless priceless moments were lost to time and memory. That encouragement led me to being invited out to San Fransisco, being invited to Lynne’s honorary induction ceremony. A few months later, I would receive a call from Marcus asking me to photograph his wedding that he was having with his wife at Celebration 2022. Steve Sansweet of Rancho Obi-Wan would be officiating. I was his first and only choice.
Marcus’s influence over my life would lead to my interest in covering film sets, where we are now. One of my last conversations was him was in regards to how grateful he was for covering him at his weddings and so many of his favorite event’s like Trader’s Night. Patch and coin trading is a huge aspect of the social community in the clubs and Marcus was the one that taught me how to do it. Knowing my career plans, something he said stuck with me:
“You need to follow this path to the end of the road, wherever it may lead.”
For you, Marcus, I will. Thank you for putting me on, believing in me, and giving me a second chance. I wish I had a chance to repay that opportunity for you. We would not have judged you for whatever shame you felt.
Marcus took his own life on August 30th, 2023 and left us suddenly in Nashville, Tennesee — home to Midsouth Garrison, known for their black and deep yellow. He hailed from Berlin Gemany on January 30th, 1973. Between being an avid football fan of Germany and Hertha BSC, Marcus dedicated the rest of his free time to the 501st Legion.
He met and married his wife, Lisa Cantrell, on May 21st at Celebration Anaheim in 2022.
Marcus is survived by Lisa, parents, family, four sons, and an entire legion of people he impacted one patch or coin trade at a time.
Thank you to Ryan Miorelli for being my most direct point of support during this time and Aubrey Postier for being the first person that gave me proper space to talk about Marcus, his passing, and impact on me in person.
The day after the passing of Marcus was confirmed, I was supposed to go to Disney with my buddies Lindsey and Rob, who define couple goals for me in life. They’ve become incredibly close to me during this time and I’m so glad they got me to go. Leaning into Star Wars, the day to escape while also giving me proper space to process.
I would meet Cameron Keaggy — some might say chance, some might say by fate — one of Marcus’s longtime friends who moved back to Orange County from Tennessee, where him and Marcus built their first stormtrooper armor together. He was wearing the colors of Midsouth Garrison known for their black and deep yellow hues and I had to do a double take knowing that was the shirt Marcus wore the most.
“Even in his passing, Marcus continues to bring us together.”
I got to celebrate our mutual freind Jessa Williams, who happened to have an interview that day for a cast member role at Disney with another friend. She got the job and we decided to take these portraits to celebrate.
We also got to spend time with Arvin Tabula, the first cast member I really started to get to know at the park. He reminds me much of Marcus’ mentality — his outlook at life, his immediacy to teach “the way”, and his general warmth and kindness.
Chapter 2: Movement, Light, and Life
[1/3 of September 2023]
Upon my return from my first visit to Lucasfilm, my mentor that started me out on my journey, Lynne Hale and I started masterminding the next steps of how we could catapult my career by leaps and bounds. It was something I never expected and quite ironic considering my past relationship to film school…it was time to come back, this time on my own terms. USC and AFI are highly regarded in our film communities as some of the best schools in the world and they were right in front of us.
The only problem was getting in…but sometimes, uh, life finds a way. Winston Stemler, a graduate of USC and AFI’s directing program had gotten in touch with me. He wanted me to shoot stills on his next short. It was to be my first period film, first time working with a crew of over 20 on a short, and my first time working with a well established DP in the community — Liz Charky. All on set outside of me were current students, graduates, or incoming. The film would deal with strong themes of suicide and depression, allowing me to lean in hard to the recent events of my life through art to help me begin processing.
Knowing how intergral this film and the crew was going to be on my ourney, Lynne knew I was ready for the next mentor in my journey. It was time for me to begin learning theory from a still photographer. She chose Ralph Nelson because not only has he shot some of the most recognizable images in the film world today, she just simply enjoyed working with him. Short to the point with a dry sense of humor and endless wit, Ralph would begin teaching his theory and give me knowledge that would have taken me years of being on set.
The best shots you get are going to be defined by three things— patience, timing, and a stroke of dumb luck.
— Ralph Nelson
Combined with a strong track record of performing my best when under extreme pressure, the 2 and 1/2 days on set resulted in the best shots I’ve taken in my career so far. Despite feeling like a deer in the headlights in the whole time, several of the crew members were genuinely surprised knowing my background to how the shots came out — a few of them stating I was the best still photographer I had ever worked with. To date, they were the best crew — I had never seen so many people on set knew what they were supposed to be doing all the time. A greater blessing — with many of them having worked with photographers, they knew how to give me space to practice my craft and letting the work speak for itself, instantly I was met with the same level of respect.
Knowing my general background in PR, Lynne had asked if I had any interest in learning how to become a unit publicist as well. Of course I did and within less than a heartbeat I said yes. Thus, would increase my offer to Winston, building the film’s publicity plan and beginning my journey learning from the lady George Lucas entrusted his franchise to — the one that built me and my entire life as we know it.
In return, the leadership team of the film would follow through making their introductions to their entire network of students, graduates, and high ranking officials that would get me involved with the schools at large. Lynne continued to help on her end, going through her contacts.
With what seemed like a snap of a finger, my rest of the year film wise became booked.
“Life imitates art and art imitates life.” — Julia Garland upon hearing about hearing the themes of the film and how it was relating back to the events of life.
Chapter 3: Galaxy of Hope
[2/3 of September 2023]
“My first responsibility as an author in the world of Star Wars is to be an ambassador for the community. One of the first things I was taught in my “new employee handbook” at Lucasfilm when I started was how much of an impact I would have on the imagination of people growing up who were going to be reading my books. The proof of concept you have shown here has begun to change the conversation of by showing people that what you can do is really only limited by your imagination.
-Jason Fry’s first point of feedback to me and the LegendsCon founding team.
Growing up, books were a huge part of my childhood. I spent much of my time reading, increasing the ability where. my imagination could go. Little did I know, my choice to focus on the latest Star Wars, Eragon, or re-reading Ready Player One (slappers only!) countless of times would be some of the best school I could have for future me. Books integrated deeply into my knowledge of pop culture, I just never thought I would have the opportunity to learn from and thank the people behind them.
When I started my 501st journey, among the first highly regardest guests I would have the the experience managing a con and her relationship with the clubs for would be Delilah S. Dawson who was hot on her press tour for Phama leading up to the release of The Last Jedi. Included in the experience was basically my private dinner with her — she was extremely generous with her time, helping me understand the elements of what makes writing uniquely good Star Wars, how to tell good story through character, and her journey into becoming an author. I would meet. Since, we would stay in touch, always having good conversations at conventions like Celebration.
Much like meeting Marcus, I would meet Delilah in a year that I met many of my my first mentors integral to my life now all coming full circle. I grew up always was wanting to have a father since my relationship with mine is so tough. I grew up always wanting to have a brother, being an only child. My choice to get involved in our galaxy on our larger level gave me both — two of the most integral you will meet now to continue understanding my journey.
Meet: Brandon Jackson
“Photography taught me how to to see my life in color and the ability to paint the world as my canvas.”
— Brandon Jackson
Now that you know a little of Brandon and how he got to our world, let me introduce you to our story together. I met Brandon within a few months of my growing interest in the costuming clubs about 8 years ago. He and I would connect on a Facebook group and eventually in person at Celebration 2017 in Orlando, where I would also meet Marcus in person for the first time.
Growing from a friend, Brandon would become a mentor in my life. I got to shadow him at several Celebrations before taking the lead on my own in Anaheim in 2022. A year and some change before, Brandon lost his wife Nancy unexpectedly leaving him to care for his son alone. We knew for a fact he wasn’t — an outpouring for love and support allowed his family to not have to worry about money and started to re-build Brandon’s mental state. Still, he nearly didn’t show up to Celebration — something was telling him he needed to so he did between several good cries in his car when he needed to find space alone. He brought his son along for the ride and was able to thank his community in person. The people in our world recognized Brandon’s years of giving back through his photography.
“Struggling with social anxiety and ADHD often, I’m not the best at communicating consistently. If I’ve gone out of my way to take a selfie with you, it probably means that I care about that relationship well. It’s just another example of where I use photography to communicate ways that’s better than 1,000 words.”
— Brandon Jackson
If you’ve worked with me at a group shoot, I able run things the way I do because of Brandon’s mentorship. Watching and learning from his has taught me also how to be the best human I can be and combined with our talents that has become a potent mix resulting in the first time a team of photographers ever assembled. We knew how important of an event this was going to be and just how long of a journey we had ahead of us covering at least 50 group shoots between 5 photographers on top of our own 1:1 client shoots we had scheduled that paid for us to get there.
Virtual telethons are a big part of the publicity campaigns for the costuming clubs. They work because we genuinely love doing them, mentoring the community that follows us, and raising money for charity. Recently, I got to re-unite with my Celebration team for a virtual panel talking about our tips, tricks, and favorite experiences. Our unanimous choice were the 501st and Rebel Legion group shoots seen in photography here.
Shortly therafter Brandon’s speech to the clubs, a friend of mine, called out someone I knew from the crowd. Then, she got on one knee…oh wait, no…so did he. What’s going on here?
Meet: Ryan Miorelli
The Rebel Legion and Celebration are intergral to Ryan and Bekah’s story of how they met and their relationship as partners as a whole. Being around to shoot their engagement
Brandon takes second place as the longest standing friend I know through the clubs. Ryan beats him out — we’ve known each other 8 and a 1/2 years now. He was quite literally the first person to start answering my questions about joining and the process of building a costume. Now, he knows me better than I know myself at times.
A member of the film industry himself, Ryan spent the majority of COVID as a compliance officer for sets. Now, he’s once again in the stages of figuring out where he wants to go. From costuming to know the industry, Ryan’s been integral in mentoring my mentality and understanding how things work here.
At San Diego Comic Con, I met one of our mutual friends — Katherine Winchell, a member of the team at NASA/JBL behind the Mars Rovers who was also well known in our community for founding Pride Squadron, an LGBTQ support group. After meeting her in person, I realized Legends Consortium, an idea that she had been working on with Ryan and her team for the past year and a half would be better off having me involved. An ounce of my time applying my photography and publicity experience would push them forward by leaps and bounds and so I volunteered to help.
“The longer you stay involved in this world, the more it will give back to you. Don’t go in expecting anything or have a timeline for when it’s going to happen. — being genuine will do more for you than going in with a goal. Your goal will naturally define itself through your journey.”
— The deep Old Man Luke version of Ryan Miorelli celebrating a very successful day at LegendsCon to one of our newer members of the community, Richie Hansen. He probably doesn’t remember saying this.
Legends #1
A convention ran by fans celebrating the expanded universe of Star Wars seemed like a lofty ask. It would depend on the community and the leaders in that space who created for it to created content for it to show up. Even moreso, the convention was mostly about books and writing. There was no videogame, movie or television presence.
Earlier this year, I had made a commitment that I would break the wheel of the 501st’s struggles being complained as an elitist group of fans and focus on outreach to the greater Star Wars community at large. Showing up and putting in the work at LegendsCon was part of that commitment. Like Brandon nearly not going to Celebration because of his grief, I almost didn’t show because of mine. I am so glad I did.
Going into the weekend, the founding staff wasn’t sure if there was going to be another one. We were content with this being a one and done if it had to be. We tried and that was that matter. Word spread…and people showed up. By the end of the weekend, we had roughly that 750 to 1000 people came out.
No matter what I’m an ambassador for, I live my life with the mentality that if my life impacts one person positively it will have been worth it. A lady in the front of the crowd at our closing ceremony ask for the mic — she had something to say and my founder Katherine gave her the opportunity.
“I’ve been a longtime fan of the Expanded Universe. I traveled here from North Dakota — it is a real state. [laughter from the crowd here] I’ve always loved reading, and I love the Legends novels. Fortunately, I was never bullied for this, but, as you can imagine, I don’t really have anyone back home who knows about Legends that I can share that love with. When I heard that this convention was being put on, I knew I had to get down here for it. So, to have this opportunity to meet other fans, to get to talk to these authors I’ve admired for so long has been incredible. And I think I can speak for everyone else here when I say that this weekend has been a dream, and we are so thankful for you guys hosting this.”
-Jaylyn, an attendee, to the founding team at our closing ceremony.
Immediately after the con, I reached out to Dan Madsen who’s known in our worlds for being the founder of the official fan clubs for the largest franchises in the world from Star Wars to Harry Potter. He would go onto work for Ashley Eckstein with Her Universe and now lives happily retired …in Colorado, a funny connection we had that led to us meeting and him being life changing in my journey to Lynne Hale.
Dan had reached out to me because he needed help getting a reporter in with the 501st for an interview — that reporter turned out to be Clayton Sandell whom also has proven intergral to my journey as a mentor and friend. Upon hearing that I was going to meet Lynne, he allowed me to use his name to use as a warm introduction and started the journey to the road we are at today.
I asked Dan if he had any inkling he was upon something special when he founded Celebration, the first of which happened back in 1997, a year after I was born. This is what he said:
When did you realize Star Wars Celebration was going to be something special?
I didn’t realize at the beginning that would last as long as it has. I thought at first it was just a one time thing. But as we started really putting it together and seeing it become reality I started to realize that this was indeed something special. When I saw the fans on the first day of the event so happy and excited regardless of the horrible weather we had I knew that Celebration was an event unlike any others for Star Wars fans.
Did you ever have any intentions of it becoming as impactful as it has?
Not at first but as the years went by I began to realize just how important it was. Seeing Celebrations popping up all over the country and all over the world I started seeing just how important that first Celebration was in launching a piece of Star Wars history and it’s impact on Star Wars for years to come. To this day I still receive mail from grateful fans who love Star Wars Celebration and thank me for kicking it off. I now realize that Star Wars Celebration is timeless and it gives me great pride to see it flourishing and continuing to bring such joy to the Star Wars community. So many memories and friends have been made at Star Wars Celebrations since that first one I produced in 1999. I am grateful it has impacted so many lives in such a positive way.
Chapter 5: Timewriter
“I hope you understand I’m not kidding when I say you got this, right?.
Because, you really got this.”— Robert Dutton, 1st AC for Timewriter
The idea of going back and changing how things happened with the power of a time-bending typewriter is certainly a “what if” scenario. The logline for my next short was enough to get me to work on it. Another period piece with neo noir mystery thriller themes? Sold.
In my experience returning to the film industry, I’m realizing a good crew makes or breaks an experience and your impact on them defines the next few stages of where your career goes. As such, I try to bring my A-game in talent, personality, and mentality to every project I’ve worked on. I find it too often that many crew walk away from things without getting a shot or proof they worked on the project, thus continuing the “class portraits” idea that you see on display here. Some crew come and go but some of them stick around in life in ways that you didn’t expect — Hannah being one of them who I look forward to mentoring further in life. z
One of those was Hannah Aman who spent her time on this short working as a script supervisor — I immediately recognized she was hardworking and cared about being here. Hailing from Cincinnati and in her last university studying film at DePaul university in Chicago.
She and a group of friends were working on the short in their spare time on an exchange semester working two internships in L.A. Wanting to be a showrunner, a natural conversation about my journey would lead to learning about her love for Dave Filoni who was her original person that inspired her path like Lynne Hale and Jon Favreau with his own passion project, Chef, did for me back in the day.
Dave Filoni defined my childhood ~ I was in the target audience growing up with The Clone Wars and now Rebels, hosting some of the happiest memories I have with my Dad. Because of him, I decided to go into film and eventually, like him, will be a showrunner one day.
A hilarious moment on set would lead to my pants ripping (gotta get the shot) and give me a reason to take a detour before we switched locations to change…and get a suprise. In the 10 films I have worked on since starting my journey back into the industry this past journey — well over 500 people who came through these crews — she was the only one to see me as I truly am.
Oddly, it was good timing as I walked in on her taking a breather, eyes red a mixture of the smoke/haze on set, going a little too hard, and a badly timed negative comment from another crew member, she was a bawl of tears. A gift of 501st patches coins — things you can normally get as an established member of the club — would shock her.
H:“What’s this?
S: “This is the Way.”
They were a reminder — for me, staying true to what Marcus did for me all those years being the first mentor to show me how we did “this”, passing on the “Way” and one for her — that she would have a calling card to the world of Star Wars, that not many people ever find the path to this early in their careers.
Meeting her would also be a reminder of my past as I had done a similar exchange program for my university back in 2019. The first inkling that my future would be running the big picture in public relations — we have similar experience and grievances with our program, but I will always be grateful for mine and the people still know from it that chose to follow our hopes and dreams out to the City of Angels.
I would be the only student out of the ten that would get a full time, paying internship — in the world of videogames with an excellent agency, Wonacott Communications. I would learn how to launch the likes of now legendary titles like Control and continue to support No Man’s Sky. It also, despite being intergral to being my overall understanding of P.R., would help me realize that I would never be locked in an office working for someone on excel sheets. It would be working for myself with collabotors on the frontlines, impacting people by creating moments frozen time that impact people through ways only images can.
You got the kind of eye that can’t be trained. — Ryan Huang
‘The 48 hours I spent on Timewriter would help me realize I’ve found the thing I’m going to be doing as my main thing for the rest of my life with unit photography much like my internship experience did allowing me to realize Los Angeles was going to be my city. There’s something eerily powerful about that and safe to say, the feeling affects how people see Hannah and I move through the world. We’re built different and people know that the moment we enter a film set or any other aspect of life…including the ones that not many people know about.
Chapter 7 : “The Family You Choose.”
My photography mentee and little sister from another mother, Justina James, put it best — coming from similar backgrounds, similar career choices and journeys, we’ve developed filled in the gaps where our family did not support us in a way only fellow Asian kids would understand.
“The family you choose” is my definition of community.
Hopefully, it helps you define yours too.
I know how rare it is to not find one, or two, but three unique communities of people that all have taken part in creating who in raising the person who I am today.
“Don’t discount everything you’ve built because of grief.
Your story is a journey is a growth.”
— Justin Sonfield.
Now, you understand a bit more about me and where my life is going through the people that built it and have supported me every step of the way.
You now also understand why I have Star Wars as my start in the industry. For most people, it would be the end, the mecca of all the possible jobs that they could get. For me? Not so much. My unique qualities that are taking me there:
- I am putting in the work to become the best at what I do in unit photography — something that only comes with experience and sadly, a lot of films done for free.
- I have a unique source of longevity having my work in the audio community being my primary income, allowing me a launching off point that I can also continue building into a business on the side.
- I already have a network with roots that run deep and the right mentors to get me in the door when things start moving again.
- I understand how to photograph Star Wars like no one else because it was how I got started.
”I have no other advice to give you than to the stay the course. You are off to an excellent start, Sebastien, I repeat: EXCELLENT.”
— Ralph Nelson to me upon seeing “Movement, Light and Life.”
Two words to describe our next steps? Patience. Timing. Sorry I can’t speak on more of what’s next because it’s all under NDA and in the works.
Now, it’s time to return home into the world where things all started…
Emotional intelligence is key. Relationships are everything. If you bring positive energy to a set every day everyone will want to play ball with you! I was lucky because I got to spend time with people like Ralph who brought his A-game and his charismatic personality to set each and every day.
— Lynne Hale
A long time ago… and in a galaxy far, far away…
Something extra for those of you that have made it here (thank you!) — in the words of cinema that greatly deeply me during this time from things that have impacted me for their timeliness in my life…
“Sometimes, it’s all about a leap of faith & the ability to keep going without great expectations.”
“ If you can’t find a band that will take you in, found your own.”
“Promise me that you’ll never let anyone tell you you never fit in at those big fancy places and that no matter far away you’ll no matter how far away you’ll be, you’ll never forget that you’re loved.”
“Going somewhere is better than going nowhere.”
“The only time you are wasting is your own.”
Repeat after me:
“I choose to live.”
Xoxo.
-S
To my team at Lucasfilm and their extended family of cast and crew:
Lynne Hale — Ralph Nelson — Pete Vilmur — Alejandro Vargas — Bryce Pinkos — Clayton Sandell — Dan Madsen — Jason Fry — Callisto Johnson — Steve Sansweet — Parker Hensley — Ben Huckabee — Hunter Nelson — Rob Skene — Pam Riddle — Chris Bartlett — Delilah S. Dawson — Ardeshir Radpour — Bryan Cartago — Lillian Noble
To the team behind “Movement, Light, and Life”:
Winston Stemler — Gus Murray — Liz Charky — Hayden Rusk — Simona Lovin — — Nick Medavy — Alex Niknejad — Jadyn Gobert — Jordan Sadler — Vasilisa Belokon — Nestor Trujillo — Brian Spadafora — Derek Harrison — Akaysha Brunker — Charlene Wang — Bryan Kaing — Ceaser Flores — Thea Kegler — Lara Jensen — Chanel Jolé — Kaitlin Lyerly — Kaylin Cassidy — Harrison Cade — Hugo Dias
USC School of Cinema Arts — American Film Institute
To the team behind “Timewriter”:
Hannah Aman — Robert Dutton — Ryan Luevano — Julia Stier - Daeil Kim — Mary Gerges — Anna Fifer — Melanie Sudyn — Stephen Stanec — Nikki Padilla — Katan Thana —Nick Zehner — Carolina Carvajal — Ryan Huang — LuoBing Pan — Walker Edelman — Ned Adams — Jess Goska — Melany Smith — Jeff Black — David Calhoun
To the audiophile community:
FatFreq — DUNU — PLUSSOUND — FlipEars — Kinera — Effect Audio — Zeppelin & Co — Audio Oasis — Head-Fi — Audio Discourse — Super Audio Best Friends — /r/headphones — Elise Audio — Nightjar Acoustics — Subtonic — Symphonium Audio — FiR & Bellos Audio — Empire Ears — Eletech SG — Upscale Audio — Ampsandsound — Headphones.com & The Heaphone Show — DMS — GoldenSoud — Resolve — Crinacle — GizAudio
To the stunt community:
Travis Wong — Vlad Rimburg — Aaron Toney — Andrew Franklin — my stunt teams “Hell Yeah!” & “Fight Club” — Joining All Movement — Stunt Master Class — Tempest FreeRunning — Jennifer Grimees — Julia Garland
To the the Star Wars community:
LegendsCon — The Corps Dance Crew — Scarif Social — Sienna Price — Aubrey Postier — Justina James — Arvin Tabula — Ryan Miorelli — Bekah Platzer — Brandon Jackson — Joe Booth — Michelle Paul — Erika McKinney — Teresa Nuthall — Alexis Khalil — Grace Beck — Ash Taylor — Joe Amara — Gregory Braun — Mickey Lee Buckowlski — Matt Barker — Shawn Crosby — JoEric Mercado — DJ Elliot — Justina James — Jessa Williams — Zachary Dignan — John Rodriguez — Ramey Chanadet — Steven Shultz — William C. Holmes — T.D. — Katherine Winchell — Justin Cabating — Daryl Donato — Vincent Rondia — Brett A. Fishkin — Tyrene Teo — Joey Lim— Erin Bianco — Crystal Candelero — Matt Jordan — Sean Pallas — Cody Elder — Dave Hogue — Nathan Siebel — Jason Tracewell — Justin Molnar — Vods Scott, B.K. and Avery — Lindsay Bisch — Justin & Naomi Sonfield — Scott & Melissa Magerfleisch — Molly Hale — Scout Collins — Patrick & Staci Gillies — Morgan Fischer — Karagan Kolar — Alexandra Vann & Griffin Reina — McKenzie Mendehall — Niki Powers — Gynnie Lyndquist — Sara Bermudez — Rebecca Thompson — Oksana Tam — Sammy Benesh — Michelle Petty— Dean Plantamura — Arturo Delgado — Luke & Kristin Daley — The Dad Batch — Tim Brehmer — Phil & Talitha Tanavusa — Cameron Keaggy — Andrew Lichtenhan — Kristina Runderman — Richie Hansen — Chanel Renee — Carly King — Dan Betters — Emlyne Forren — Mark Edwards — Michael Bender — Rob Barker
Lisa Cantrell
And the Force that brought us all together, Marcus Dohring.
We welcome you to the Hall of Eternal Legionnaires.
